SAN DIEGO -- There's a warning from government officials about an explosion of street drugs that don't look or taste like drugs at all.

10News investigative reporter Steve Atkinson looks into these drugs designed to lure unsuspecting children into danger.

They look like candy, snack foods or soda, but there's nothing sweet about them -- they're drugs.

Dealers are targeting kids with things like chocolate bars and gumballs filled with marijuana.

A so-called strawberry quick is really crystal methamphetamine disguised as a pink, strawberry-flavored powder.

"They take these dangerous drugs and they mask them, they hide them, in something that does not seem dangerous," said Steve Robertson with the Drug Enforcement Administration.

"It's more palatable it seems. When it looks like a Snickers bar, a kid's more likely to eat it because they're used to eating Snickers bars," said Tony Bylsma with Narconon.

Experts said dealers are being forced to get creative because teen drug use is on the decline.

"They need to find new customers, and they're trying to drum up business," said Bylsma.

And dealers know they've got to hook customers while they're young.

"If they reach the age of 21 and they haven't begun to use, then their chances of them using are very, very small," said Bylsma.

"The fact that they're targeting younger kids really makes me sick to my stomach," said recovering drug user Gina Attaguile.

Attaguile said she knows about the dangers all too well. She got hooked on meth when she was just 16, including popcorn-flavored meth.

"You actually had like a sensation of melting butter in your mouth," said Attaguile.

Education is important, especially when these products may seem like snacks.

"We put the word out to parents and to children to make them realize what's out there and how damaging it can be," said Robertson.

"It doesn't matter if they're strawberry flavored, it doesn't matter if they're cherry, it doesn't matter if they're Coca-Cola flavored, if they are drugs, they're essentially poison," said Narconon.

Attaguile said she has been off drugs for more than a year now.

"I have been able to not only get my life back together, but make it stronger than it ever was," said Attaguile.

She opened a recovery home for female addicts. She's also speaking out to warn the most vulnerable targets -- kids.

"It's been a really rough road. It's been a road that I would try to spare anybody from," said Attaguile.

No matter how the drugs taste, the warning signs are still there.

Here are some things you might notice if your child is on drugs: complete change in attitude and behavior, mood swings, red or glassy eyes and changes in sleeping patterns.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., aims to continue sending a strong message to drug pushers.

Feinstein introduced legislation to the Senate in April.

The legislation would require that drug dealers face increased criminal penalties if they're caught marketing candy-flavored meth and other drugs to children.

This legislation was written to enforce the same enhanced penalties currently applied to dealers who distribute drugs to minors.

To find out more about what's being done to prevent drug dealers from introducing children to meth, click on http://feinstein.senate.gov.